Welcome to the 2019 MidSchoolMath National Conference! #MidSchoolMath2019

Looking for Session Handouts? Check out the Conference Dropbox at http://bit.ly/MidSchoolMath2019! Additional materials will be added as they are provided.

Thank you for joining us in Santa Fe for our 6th Annual Conference! If you selected your sessions prior to Sunday, 2/24, a print copy of your personalized schedule will be provided in your attendee packet. You’ll also get a daily agenda email from SCHED!

As a reminder, helpful information about traveling to Santa Fe, including airport shuttle services, featured hotels, getting around town, restaurants, and more can be found here.

After the Conference, please take a moment to provide session feedback using SCHED! Thank you!

Algebra is a critical part of success as students move into higher mathematics and into careers. Therefore, it is important to not only have students master the concepts in algebra but also have a deeper understanding of functions and variables. But how do you obtain mastery while empowering the students to take charge of their learning? For several years, we have been designing and implementing activities in algebra classrooms where students pose, solve, and share algebra problems related to their interests in popular culture areas like sports and social networking.

In this session, you'll experience one of our activities – they will first work in small groups to solve problems involving linear equations and direct variation. Participant groups will then select a topic of interest to them and will be asked to pose their own algebra story problem related to their interests. Through small-group and whole-group discussions, participants will compare direct variation versus linear change using multiple representations. Participants then will hear about personalized problem-posing activities that have been implemented in the classroom, including success stories, common trouble spots, and example problems written by students. There will be general discussion about the instructional strategies of connecting mathematics to students’ interests and about using problem-posing in the mathematics classroom.

I moved into the educational arena in 2008 after spending many years in the business world. I began my career in Raleigh, North Caroline in Wake Country Public Schools where I served in many different capacities. Upon returning to Texas, I shifted into Urban education in Dallas ISD... Read More →